08/04/2022
🔈 CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME AND PHALEN'S TEST
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve, a major nerve in the upper extremity that travels down the arm and enters the hand through a very small gap called carpal tunnel located in the central part of the wrist, gets compressed in the carpal tunnel. This causes irritation of the nerve leading to tingling or pain. Typically, this disease affects the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Athletes participating in golf, bowling and tennis are generally affected with carpal tunnel syndrome though the most common cause remains keyboarding activity.
The main cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve, which may occur due to swelling or any other injury resulting in narrowing of the size of the carpal tunnel.
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness, weakness, pain, or tingling in the hand or fingers. Some individuals experience pain in the arm between their elbow and hand.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is first treated by conservative method. The general treatment includes complete rest for the wrist by wearing a splint. Cold therapy helps a lot to relieve the swelling and inflammation.
Physiotherapy for carpal tunnel syndrome is important in speeding up the healing process and to get the optimal results. Physiotherapy also decreases the likelihood of recurrences in the future. Physiotherapy may include:
🔑 Soft tissue massage
🔑 Electrotherapy
🔑 Joint mobilization
🔑 Heat and ice treatments
🔑 Bracing or splinting
🔑 Exercises to improve strength and flexibility
🔑 Activity modification and training
🔑 Appropriate plan for return to activity
🚑 PHALEN'S TEST
This test for CTS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is also known as wrist-flexion test. During the test which is known as Phalen’s Test, the patient is asked to flex his wrist for about 60 seconds and ask to report all the symptoms patient experiences. This CTS test has been described in several positions. G.A. Phalen reported in the year 1966 that when the patient held his forearm vertically and let his wrist drop at 90 degrees. Alternately, the wrist can be made to hang down while the arm is held horizontally.
Another way of performing this test is to hold both the wrists at 90 degrees flexion against each other with the elbows being flexed too. The fingers will also be pointing in the patient’s direction. The Reverse Phalen’s test is one where the patient is made to hold their wrist and fingers, which are fully extended and experiences symptoms which indicate or confirm the diagnosis of CTS or carpal tunnel syndrome.
